Vespa Rally

Working through a volume of Motor Cycling I came across this report on the first International Vespa Rally, in July 1953.

- Dave Richmond

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After a week of weather which, had it persisted, would have sorely tried even a Vespa's proofing against the elements, last Sunday provided over 11 hours of brilliant sunshine at Brighton, where the Vespa Club of Britain held its first International Vespa Rally of Southern England. From early morning the wide streets and avenues of the Sussex resort echoed to the purr of small two‑strokes as some 400 scooters — many carrying lady passengers, gay in their summer dresses or smart and business‑like in slacks and shining windcheaters — converged on the car park of Withdean Stadium, which stands on a hillside slope a few miles inland, and which was designated as the rallying point.

By 11am the park was full of motor‑scooters — and the sky was crowded with balloons as the day's first event, a balloon race, got under way. Borne aloft on a strong westerly breeze, the crimson aerostats gyrated over the surrounding tree‑tops, adding such a touch of carnival to the scene that the Continental Vespisti present — for from the branches of the Vespa clubs of France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and Germany contingents had come — must have felt quite at home.

Before the parade moved off to take up position on Madeira Drive, there was time for the rallyists to intermingle, converse and examine each other's machinery. Even a casual glance at the gathering sufficed to illustrate quite vividly how the motor‑scooter has succeeded in breaking down the anti‑two‑wheeler prejudices of years. The riders were drawn from all parts of the country and included people of many diverse callings.

Especially evident — and gratifying — was the numerical strength of the ladies, not all young, many of whom were driving their own scooters.

And — likewise a happy augury — not a few scooterists were wearing safety helmets. The machines, too, gave mute evidence. Models with many workaday miles recorded on their milometers — the Fords and the Morrises of the motorcycling world — rubbed shoulders, quite democratically, with shining, luxuriously equipped stablemates which, by comparison, were veritable Cadillacs! Special machines on parade included a sidecar float to carry one scooter, the commercial Vespa in several forms, and a sidecar outfit scarlet as a fire engine — which, in fact, it was; a small fire‑fighting vehicle for use on airfields.

Among the models ridden by Continental competitors a beige French model carrying a full range of accessories and one of the latest Vespa 53 machines, hailing from Belgium, attracted the most attention. To assist any competitor who might experience mechanical difficulties, Withers of West Norwood had provided three service vehicles and one of these, a modified Douglas — Vespa commercial model, featured, displayed atop the sidecar, a sectioned engine. Of the competing riders, the oldest was a local — 66‑year‑old WF Whitehead, who hails from Hove — while those travelling the longest distance were a Wiesbaden couple, the Walter Adlers, whose round trip would top the 1,750‑mile mark. But one hopeful was hastily banished by the organisers. He had arrived on a Lambretta!

Miss Joan Gilbert, Prof AM Low and Douglas managing director C McCormack ponder a point while judging the Concours d'Élégance.

Shepherded by members of Brighton's motor cycle police, the rallyists moved off as noon approached, heading for Madeira Drive on the sea front, where the machines were to be displayed in a special enclosure before lunch and the afternoon's festivities. Each contingent in the groups — naturally separated, in view of holiday traffic conditions — was headed by its own standard, while the parade was led by the five green‑and‑white‑clad Vespa Belles, one of them using a sidecar outfit. As the company dispersed for lunch, a non‑competitor purred along the seafront with one of the most unusual accessories of the day on view — a tailored box on the luggage carrier from which protruded the head of her pet poodle!

Six commercials at Withdean. These combinations, which attracted much interest, include a Vespa float, an airfield fire‑fighting unit, Procea Bread and Biro delivery outfits, and — at the end — the Withers service outfit, with sectioned engine atop the sidecar.

After lunch came a concours d'élégance judged by a panel consisting of C McCormack, managing director of Douglas (Sales and Service), television's Miss Joan Gilbert and Prof AM Low, himself a pioneer of scooter design. Two Miss Vespas — one of Southern England and one European — were elected, and the last competition was an obstacle race, difficult enough to form a real test of skill for the drivers and a test of handling for the machines. Then came the prize presentation before, in the early evening, the rallyists returned to Withdean prior to dispersal after an event which bodes well for the motor scooter movement in general and for the still‑young Vespa club in particular.

Results:

Silver City Trophy (foreign rider travelling longest distance): Waller Adler, Wiesbaden, 875 miles.

Vespa Cup (home rider travelling greatest distance): A. Grant, Swansea, 286 miles.

Obstacle Race: 1, D Kalra; 2, JN Durnford.

Concours d'Elegance: 1 RW Krammer; 2, Leon Gobbe; 3, B Nichol.

From The Motor Cycle